Mayhem Diaries

The Midwest Black Widow

Kelly and her husband Jason made a wedding night pact tokill anyone involved in their extramarital affairs. They lured her lover, ChrisRegan, to their home, shot him, and dismembered him. The truly sadistic rumor?She allegedly served his remains to her neighbors at a barbecue. Later, whenshe was tired of her husband, she gave him a deliberate heroin overdose andsmothered him so she wouldn't have to deal with a divorce. * News Coverage: Alleged serial killer tied to Michigan may have killed 9, served lover's remains at BBQ (Fox 2 Detroit) [https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/alleged-serial-killer-tied-to-michigan-may-have-killed-9-served-lovers-remains-at-bbq] - A solid breakdown of the timeline, the trial, and the wilder serial killer allegations that emerged later. * Docuseries: Dead North on Investigation Discovery. This is the 4-part series featuring the actual interrogation footage and bodycam video from Chief Laura Frizzo's investigation. You can stream the episodes on Discovery+ [https://www.discoveryplus.com/shows/dead-north/09ed36a1-93ee-4ea9-ad1a-ceedd12a2dc6] or Apple TV [https://tv.apple.com/us/show/dead-north/umc.cmc.2fvc2zcml6s6h0hx3tyt3ytyj]. * Deep Dive Podcast: Murder, Mystery & Makeup: Who is Kelly Cochran? [https://podcasts.apple.com/tt/podcast/the-serial-killer-youve-never-heard-of-killed-her/id1591653048?i=1000743942330] - If you want to hear how another creator breaks down the twisted marriage pact and the horrific barbecue rumors, this is a great listen. You can also watch 'Where Monsters Hide' on Nightline [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezngt_LN1NI]. This investigative segment provides an excellent visual overview of the police hunt for Chris Regan and the chilling clues discovered inside the Cochran home.

The Bridgeport Poltergeist

This week on Mayhem Diaries, we’re unlocking the door to the Goodin family bungalow on Lindley Street. In the winter of 1974, this small home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, became the epicenter of one of the most documented and debated paranormal events in U.S. history. We’re getting into the mess of flying crucifixes, the arrival of demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the wildest detail of all: a cat named Sam who supposedly had a lot to say. Was this a genuine demonic entity terrorizing a family, or the greatest, most elaborate hoax ever pulled off by an 11-year-old girl? Detailed Articles & Case Studies * True Crime New England [https://www.truecrimene.com/episodes/stkjmnruy90mz6gzyaq0mduy1jk7bw]: Provides a deep dive into the timeline, starting from when Jerry and Laura Goodin bought the bungalow in 1960 through the height of the activity in 1974. * Damned Connecticut [https://www.damnedct.com/lindley-street-bridgeport/]: A great resource for the "weird" details, including the local lore about the talking cat and the debunking (or lack thereof) by police. * Haunts Podcast Show Notes [https://www.hauntscast.com/show-notes/the-lindley-street-poltergeist]: Offers a concise summary of the major events, including the involvement of Ed and Lorraine Warren and the eventual "hoax" label. * Bridgeport History Center [https://bportlibrary.org/hc/wp-content/uploads/Witchcraft-and-Hauntings-Research-at-the-Bridgeport-History-Center.pdf]: This PDF guide from the local library lists archival materials, newspaper clippings, and books related to the case. * William J. Hall's Research [https://bportlibrary.org/hc/wp-content/uploads/Witchcraft-and-Hauntings-Research-at-the-Bridgeport-History-Center.pdf]: Hall wrote The World's Most Haunted House, which is considered the definitive book on the subject. * The True Horror of the Bridgeport Poltergeist (YouTube) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kR0UVOoTmg]: A full paranormal documentary that includes witness accounts and historical footage. * New England Legends Podcast [https://ournewenglandlegends.com/podcast-278-the-lindley-street-poltergeist/]: This episode features a dramatic walkthrough of the events and the 1974 cultural atmosphere. * Amazing Tales CT [https://amazingtalesct.podbean.com/e/this-ct-ghose-story-has-plenty-of-credible-witnesses/]: Focuses on the credibility of the dozens of police and firefighters who swore they saw objects move.

The Smurl Family Haunting

Forget the flickering lights—we’re talking about the duplex at 106 Chase Street, where the walls bled black sludge and a family was pushed to the brink by an invisible predator. In this mega-episode, we break down the 15-year siege of the Smurl family, the failure of the Church, and the "circus" that turned a domestic nightmare into a global headline. Down the Rabbit Hole: * Watch the Movie: The Haunted (1991) Full Feature [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4__UCi-ozA] – See the TV movie that traumatized a generation. * The Official File: NESPR: The Smurl Family Haunting [https://warrens.net/smurl-family-haunting/] – Read the Warrens’ original reports on the "infested" duplex. * Read the Source: The Haunted by Robert Curran [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-One-Familys-Nightmare/dp/1631680196] – The book co-authored by the Smurls themselves. * In Memoriam: Jack Smurl (1942-2017) [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/citizensvoice/name/john-smurl-obituary?id=15953106] – The legacy of a man who never wavered in his truth.

Black Hope Cemetery

One of the most legally and ethically "messy" hauntings out there. As a Realtor, the property law aspect of this is going to make your skin crawl—the developers essentially built a subdivision over a pauper’s cemetery and then left the homeowners to pay the court costs.The Gold Standard: Media & Documentaries * Unsolved Mysteries - Black Hope Curse [https://unsolved.com/gallery/black-hope-curse/]: This is the definitive hub for the case, featuring the original segment that brought the Haney and Williams families' stories to the national stage. * https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104365/ [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104364/]: For listeners who want to see the dramatized version starring Patty Duke. It’s loosely based on the book The Black Hope Horror. Historical & Deep-Dive Research * Austin Ghost Tours: The Black Hope Cemetery and Horror [https://austinghosttours.com/black-hope-cemetery-and-horror/]: This is an excellent long-read that breaks down the specific timeline of the Newport subdivision and the identities of the people buried there (like Charlie and Betty Thomas). The Legal & Neighborhood Angle * Historic Houston: Newport Subdivision Discussion [https://houstonarchitecture.com/topic/17385-black-hope-cemetery-at-15802-poppets-ct/]: This forum includes local perspectives and "boots on the ground" accounts from people who lived in or near the Newport area during the 80s and 90s.

The Bayou Strangler

Laissez les bons temps rouler? Not this time. 🎭 For our final Black History Month drop, we are heading down to my old stomping grounds—the Big Easy. But we aren’t talking about King Cake, parade routes, or Bourbon Street benders. We’re wading deep into the sugarcane fields and the parishes where the justice system turned a blind eye. This week on Mayhem Diaries, we’re dissecting the infuriating, devastating case of Ronald Dominique—The Bayou Strangler. Over a decade, he hunted the margins of society, targeting at least 23 Black men while law enforcement chalked up obvious strangulations to "asthma" and "accidental drownings." The system didn't just fail these men; it handed the killer a VIP pass to keep going. Grab your drink and lock the deadbolt. It’s a heavy one, but we owe it to the victims to say their names and drag this systemic nightmare into the light. The Case Files & Timelines: * The Plea & Sentencing Receipts (News Archive): https://www.foxnews.com/story/louisiana-serial-killer-gets-8-life-terms-for-8-murders [https://www.foxnews.com/story/louisiana-serial-killer-gets-8-life-terms-for-8-murders] * Complete Victim Timeline & Breakdown: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Dominique [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Dominique] (Wikipedia actually keeps the most comprehensive, updated list of all 23+ victims and the exact dates/locations they were found). The Documentary: * Bayou Blue (Where to Stream): https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bayou_blue [https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bayou_blue] (This page shows your listeners exactly where it is currently streaming, including Prime Video and Apple TV). The Organizations: * Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI): https://www.blackandmissinginc.com/ [https://www.blackandmissinginc.com/] * PACE Louisiana: https://www.pacelouisiana.org/ [https://www.pacelouisiana.org/] * House of Tulip (New Orleans Housing Refuge): https://houseoftulip.org/ [https://houseoftulip.org/]